Games of skill and luck in Australia – a fine line that is getting harder to define

If you’re thinking of hosting or entering a competition or game in Australia, you need to know the difference between regulations on games of skill and luck. Games of skill do not require a permit, but events that are classified as games of chance do. Australia has fairly strict laws in this regard compared to […]

If you’re thinking of hosting or entering a competition or game in Australia, you need to know the difference between regulations on games of skill and luck. Games of skill do not require a permit, but events that are classified as games of chance do. Australia has fairly strict laws in this regard compared to the rest of the world, so it is important that people living in the country understand them fully. Here are some of the games of skill and luck that are allowed in Australia.

Games of Luck

Online gambling and poker sites are hugely popular among Australians, and they are legal to play within the country. However, there are tight restrictions on gambling sites within the country. Australian players have to wager at overseas sites as there are none actually based in the country.

In recent times, there have been calls for reform on some aspects of the tight gambling laws which mean that a lot of games of luck are not permitted. Senator David Leyonhjelm, the New South Wales representative of the Liberal Democratic Party, has been working towards getting online poker legalised in Australia. He argues that it is more a game of skill rather than luck.

Poker does have some elements of chance involved, as in any card game, but there are also many ways in which players can work to improve their game and overcome any opponent regardless of their hand. This is supported by the fact that professional poker players like Daniel Negreanu and Phil Ivey frequently prevail over amateurs in major tournaments like the World Series of Poker. The two players have made it to the final tables in Las Vegas so many times that it can’t possibly be down to luck. Because of this, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see poker changed to a game of skill within Australian gambling laws in the years to come.

Other casino games with little player skill involved may face a tougher time trying to get legalised, however. This seems like a missed opportunity for the Australian government, because if the games were allowed there would be a huge rise in sites within the country which could then be taxed. Australian players currently play all their online casino games at sites based off-shore. Sites like Planet 7 Oz feature all the games that Australians love from pokies to blackjack, and also include some enticing bonuses. The best pokies for real money and other games that Australians love can be found at the site.

Currently, however, the options for those who wish to play games of chance in Australia are few. There are various lotteries available across the country which are allowed, but other than these there are not many options.

Games of Skill

A game of skill in Australia is classified as one where a person is chosen by judges and assessed against a specific set of criteria. If you want to host a competition, for instance, you would have to clearly set out the requirements for winning the prize in the terms and conditions. If there are any elements of luck involved, it may be that you would need to apply for a permit.

The most common games of skill played in Australia are sports, with Aussie Rules being the most popular spectator game across the country. Cricket and rugby are also well-loved. In terms of games that can be played by a single player, eSports are now beginning to be played by more Australians. 2018 was a big year for competitive gaming in the country, and there were numerous eSports competitions including the Melbourne Esports Open at the Rod Laver Arena. ESports cover a wide range of different games which can be played competitively online. Some of the most popular games are League of Legends, Fortnite, and Hearthstone.

The emergence of eSports could actually be a good thing for games like poker. This is because although they are mainly skill-based, there are some elements of chance which are decided by random number generators. This is especially true in the fantasy card game Hearthstone. If these games are allowed, then it surely is only a matter of time before the tight restrictions on gambling games in the country are lifted.

In the eyes of the law, there is a big difference between games of skill and luck in Australia. However, with the emergence of eSports and poker, it’s clear that there is often a fine line between the two types of game. At the moment, the restrictions remain tight, but in the years to come the country could follow the same path as other places like the UK where the laws are more relaxed.